Zion Williamson may be heavily prone to injuries, but when on-court, “Zanos” is a force of nature. Add Brandon Ingram to the mix, and the Pelicans get a deadly duo. Coming off the victory over the defending champions, Denver, and one of the top title contenders, the Mavs, the Pelican State is looking to extend their winning streak.

And now, they are hoping for Williamson’s first back-to-back games of this season. With less than 24 hours on the clock, can we see Zion in the starting lineup?

Will the Pelicans play Zion Williamson tonight vs the Wolves?

Williamson’s affinity for injuries is not unknown. In fact, the 6’6 power forward missed the entire 2021-22 season, sidelined with a foot injury. This season hasn’t seen anything of such intensity yet, but New Orleans might sit Zion out for this one. After all, it’s still early in the season, and they wouldn’t want to risk him missing out on key games.

Nevertheless, it seems Zion Williamson is expected to play against the Minnesota Timberwolves. So far, the former MVP has stayed healthy, but looking at his injury history, it’s understandable why the team is cautious. From toe, foot, ankle, knee, thumb, hip, finger, and hamstring, Williamson has an interesting timeline of injuries. The latest was, of course, the hamstring injury that had Coach Green scrambling to dig deep into the roster. January 3rd was the fateful day when medical imaging confirmed the hamstring injury fears.

Since then, Zion has been resting and taking slow steps toward recovery. On February 12th, all hopes were dashed when the re-evaluation once again confirmed that the hamstring injury had worsened. Despite being cleared to return to on-court activities on March 22, the power forward didn’t feel mentally prepared to play with confidence.

Talking to the media for the first time since his injury, he said, “Physically, I’m fine, now it’s just a matter of when I feel like Zion ... When I go to make certain moves, there is that hesitation.” That was then. Looking at Williamson now, it seems like he is finally over his rough patch.

What Williamson’s presence means for the Pelicans

Tonight, the New Orleans Pelicans will be facing a young, and one of the best defensive teams in the NBA. Off to a hot start with Anthony Edwards at the helm, the Timberwolves are going to be fierce opponents. It is a good thing that Crescent City has an equally powerful forward in “Zanos”.

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With his 285-pound frame, the 2x NBA All-Star can effortlessly disrupt defenders, power through the lane, and showcase an extraordinary vertical. So having Williamson on the court means powering through Gobert and KAT – aggressive rim protectors. And then, they have the tiny problem of trying to contain the 22-year-old “Ant-Man”.

Even so, the Pelicans have held on remarkably considering the injury-prone start to the season. All the credit goes to the coaching staff for such brilliance. The development of short-term offensive and defensive schemes is what helped them stay in the competitive lane.

Ingram and Williamson surely have a consistent rhythm and on-court chemistry going on. Having either one of them on the floor does offer an advantage. But relying completely on them wouldn’t be a foolproof plan. And that’s where Jonas Valanciunas comes into the picture. The big man can be depended on to provide a screen for the pick-and-roll.

If the team decides to play Williamson, we are in for a thrilling match. But will they be a match for one of the most in-form teams in the NBA? Let us know what you think!

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